Maturation of speech and language functional neuroanatomy in pediatric normal controls

Michael D. Devous, Dianne Altuna, Nicholas Furl, William Cooper, Gretchen Gabbert, Wei Tat Ngai, Stephanie Chiu, Jack M. Scott, Thomas S. Harris, J. Kelly Payne, Emily A. Tobey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the relationship between age and resting-state regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in regions associated with higher order language skills using a population of normal children, adolescents, and young adults. Method: rCBF was measured in 33 normal participants between the ages of 7 and 19 years using single photon emission computed tomography. Participants' ages were regressed on rCBF values (normalized to whole-brain CBF) in 2 ways: (a) within anatomically defined, language-related regions of interest (ROIs) including Wernicke's area, Broca's area, angular gyrus, planum temporale, and Heschl's gyrus and (b) within clusters of voxels found to be significantly related to age in voxel-wise analyses. Results: rCBF in all anatomically defined ROIs except Heschl's gyrus declined as a function of age. Additionally, voxel-wise analyses revealed clusters where rCBF declined with age in left inferior parietal, left superior temporal, and right middle temporal regions - areas often implicated in higher order language functions. Conclusions: These data suggest that ongoing maturation (e.g., dendritic pruning) in higher order cognitive areas (e.g., angular gyrus) continues into adolescence, as reflected by declining rCBF, while the primary auditory area (Heschl's gyrus) has become a stable neuronal population by age 7 years.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)856-866
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume49
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2006

Keywords

  • Pediatric normal controls
  • SPECT
  • Speech and language
  • rCBF

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Speech and Hearing

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